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Melvin Franz

Dr. Melvin “Mel” Franz spent much of his professional career as an educator helping students to be prepared to enter the rapidly changing world of technology before retiring this year as professor emeritus of computer and office information systems. He dedicated 26 years to the university and its students.

Dr. Franz studied chemistry at Fort Hays State College in Hays, Kan., where he earned a bachelor’s degree. His graduate work included a master’s degree in business education at Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan., and a doctorate in vocational and technical education at Ohio State University.

He served as an assistant professor of business administration at Central for four years, beginning in 1970. Then he moved on to Ohio State University, where he taught accounting and Boston University, where he oversaw the computer information systems program. He returned to Central in 1984 to become a professor in the Department of Computer and Office Information Systems, teaching Database Management and Advanced COBOL.

Dr. Franz was a consultant and also conducted seminars for businesses and organizations such as Cerner Corporation, Hallmark Corporation, and the Missouri Division of Social Services. He conducted a summer workshop in 1997 for IBM in Germany.